ChatGPT Prompting Cheat Sheet – Concise & Effective

 

Here’s a concise, candid, and informative guide to effective prompting in ChatGPT:

1. Be Specific

• ✅ “Summarize in 5 bullet points for business readers.”

• ❌ “Tell me about this article.”

2. Define Output Format

• Specify style, length, or layout:

  • “Write a 200-word LinkedIn post, friendly and persuasive.”

  • “Bilingual translation: Chinese left, English right.”

3. Control Tone & Voice

• Use descriptors: engaging, candid, humorous, authoritative.

• Example: “Explain blockchain to beginners in a story-like, fun tone.”

4. Layer Instructions

• Break tasks into steps:

  1. Summarize main ideas

  2. Highlight key insights

  3. Suggest practical takeaways

5. Ask for Analysis & Insight

• Example: “Compare these two AI tools and give a candid recommendation.”

6. Iterate & Refine

• Review output, then tweak:

  • “Make this more concise, under 150 words, professional tone.”

7. Provide Context

• Include audience, purpose, and tone:

  • “Explain to seniors how AI can help with learning English.”

8. Encourage Creativity

• Use analogies or storytelling:

  • “Explain quantum computing using a cooking analogy, humorous but accurate.”

9. Avoid Ambiguity

• Specify references clearly: “this paragraph,” “these points.”

10. Encourage Reflection

• Ask for deeper insights:

  • “What are 3 practical strategies seniors can adopt from this research?”

---

💡 Key Insight:
Prompting = conversation + collaboration. Be clear, provide context, and guide tone—but allow AI room for creativity and insight.